And the Kitchen Island Design is the Showstopper

A project by Erin Doak of Hello Kitchen
Photos by Avery Nicole Photography

Our newlywed clients were looking to improve their dated condo unit with the long term goal of having renters in the space. Remodeling within a practical budget with their long list of wants and needs was the main goal! The other goal was to open everything up and update it all. They love to entertain, and it was hard to do in a closed off condo kitchen.

DESIGNING WITH NATURAL LIGHT

The condo sits in the hills of Spicewood, on a second story, so their views are nothing but trees. It’s almost as if you’re in a treehouse! But their views were blocked by awkward architecture and natural light wasn’t able to reach half of the space. We knew right away we were going to have to rework the ceiling lines and open up the bookcase closing off the kitchen.

CHIC CABINETRY TRICKS

The clients wanted to work with Ikea cabinets in an effort to keep the costs to a minimum. We knew we wanted to incorporate custom details and Ikea would make that easy to do. Here, custom details include the wine rack to the left of the refrigerator. We also customize a cabinet base to fit the angled wall by the sink. To elevate the look of the Ikea cabinet, we finished them with Semi-handmade doors and fronts. Their quality is amazing, and they help to reinforce the particle board Ikea boxes!

To dress up the black cabinetry, we paired brass finishes – because brass and black will never go out of trend! Tile on the backsplash AND the peninsula brought more texture and fun into this condo kitchen. It is overall complimenting the client’s very clean chic style.

THE SHOWSTOPPER: A TIMELESS BLACK AND WHITE TILED KITCHEN ISLAND

We added a wonderfully charming design detail. A black and white geometric pattern, that is playful but yet not too ornate for this cheery and modern space.

The Agadir Black tile by Clay Imports is certainly the visual showstopper of the kitchen. And since the homeowners are remodeling to potentially rent out their place, you can’t go wrong with black and white statement tile. Black and white, is after all the classic combination that is standing the test of time in interior design.

Wrapped around the kitchen island, the white background of the tile dominates. This immediately brightens the room, while still being breathtakingly different. It’s an easy uniform to build upon. And the black accents in an otherwise neutral space really ground and anchor a wholesome design.

Now that the space is open and has a completely new feel, it has significantly increased the value of this couple’s condo unit. Plus it allows them to host their friends and family comfortably!

See more project pics on hellokitchen.net and stalk @hello__kitchen on Instagram for more beautiful design work. Check out also, General Contractor Simply Sold and their projects.